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Lisa Begin-Kruysman

About Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Originally from New Jersey, artist/writer/blogger Lisa Begin-Kruysman has called Southeast Georgia her home for the past two and a half years. It was during a road trip last October, when she and her husband Rich were returning south after celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary, that he became ill, passing just four weeks later. The author of several books, including Dog's Best Friend (McFarland & Co. 2014) mostly inspired by the special human-canine bond, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for the Dog Writers Association of America and now returns to blogging posting for Widow's Voice with the intention of sharing her personal experience of widowhood with those who know the struggles first-hand and to perhaps help those who struggle to understand the daily challenges facing those who've lost a spouse or significant other.

Stops Along the Road

Posted on: September 30, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

On Thursday, September 28th, Rich and I would’ve celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary. As I’ve shared in my bi-line and bio below, we celebrated our 25th anniversary up at the Jersey Shore, also spending time cleaning out my family home in Hackensack to prepare for its sale.  It was a special time spent with people […]

Categories: Widowed Memories, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Anniversaries, Widowed Milestones, Uncategorized

A “Weekness” For Dogs

Posted on: September 23, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Sometime around 2009, I came across an observance called National Dog Week. Founded by a man named Captain Wm. Lewis Judy in 1928, this intriguing slice of canine Americana fascinated me; there really was an actual seven day observance just to celebrate dogs and the humans that love them during the last week of September […]

Categories: Widowed Memories, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Holidays, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Belongings, Uncategorized

Pleasant Beginnings

Posted on: September 16, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

To comprehend how far we’ve moved forward after a life-changing event, it’s helpful to take a look back. I often ask myself to recall what I was doing a year, or even more, earlier at any given time. It may be difficult, but in the end it is ultimately helpful, for better or worse. This […]

Categories: Widowed Memories, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Anniversaries, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Signs from Loved One, Widowed Community, Uncategorized

Let The Cabin Chronicles Begin!

Posted on: September 9, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

  As I write this, I’m pulling together the final details for my latest “project”. I know many of my friends and neighbors have learned of my new venture, but as I’ve been cautious to share before I’ve signed on the dotted line, I’ve been concentrating on navigating the challenges of acquiring real estate, this […]

Categories: Widowed and Healing, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Signs from Loved One, Widowed Community, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

There Was Somethin’ Good Waiting Down That Road…

Posted on: September 2, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

  Happy Labor Day Weekend to my friends in the USA. For many, it is a three day weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of a new school year, but here in the South high temperatures will endure long in to the fall season and local kids returned to school […]

Categories: Uncategorized

The Rerouting of Plans

Posted on: August 26, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

With my dad’s passing in April and my mom’s return to life up north, my life has changed – with my return from Camp Widow San Diego just four weeks ago, there have been some interesting developments, and as promised I will share more when I’m able. Last week I received an interesting e-mail regarding […]

Categories: Widowed Milestones, Widowed Therapy, Widowed Community, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Getting Meta-physical

Posted on: August 19, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

It’s been four weeks since I’ve returned from Camp Widow in San Diego, however, the experience of that conference still resonates and inspires. It was enlightening to  cross paths with nearly 600 individuals who’ve lost their spouses, or significant others; I gained  knowledge, insight and growth from presenting my Writing Work Shop which only accounted […]

Categories: Widowed and Healing, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Signs from Loved One, Widowed Therapy, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

“Winding” My Own Business

Posted on: August 12, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

  It is hard for me to grasp that next month marks one year that I’ve posted here at The Widow’s Voice. Each one of the “Blogging Seven” – one writer for each day of the week – offers a personal account that has evolved around the circumstances that brought them (okay us) to the […]

Categories: Widowed and Healing, Widowed Anniversaries, Widowed Community, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

The “Write Tools” for Processing Grief

Posted on: August 5, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

When I submitted my request to present at Camp Widow in Tampa and/or San Diego to Soaring Spirits International, I had a fairly good grasp of what I wanted to achieve with my presentation. When my proposal was accepted, however, I began to worry if what I had in mind would be beneficial to those […]

Categories: Widowed and Healing, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Therapy, Widowed Community, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

No Small Steps

Posted on: July 29, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Since I’ve returned from Camp Widow in San Diego many have asked how things went. People do find the concept of a gathering of The Widowhood to be intriguing, a circle of united souls someone recently described to me as The Worst Club with the Best Members. Really, does anyone really want that membership? I’m […]

Categories: Widowed and Healing, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community

Post Camp Coping

Posted on: July 22, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Today I just want to take a moment to acknowledge my Dad’s First Heavenly Birthday. He passed on April 29th and I shared his Service and legacy in a previous post. Quint was one of his biggest fans. He is truly missed by so many, especially my mom who finds herself widowed in her mid-90s. […]

Categories: Uncategorized

When The Time is Write, So is The Dog

Posted on: July 15, 2023 | Posted by: Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Sitting in the Atlanta airport waiting for my connecting flight to San Diego a couple struck up a conversation from the seats opposite me. They were chatting up the people around us and the man asked if I was looking forward to going to San Diego. I said yes. Then he asked what was bringing […]

Categories: Uncategorized

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